Rank: Specialist 5
Unit: Headquarters & Headquarters Troop, 2nd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
MOS: 71M – Chaplain Assistant
Awards: Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, Army Commendation Medal with Valor Device, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Unit awards: Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm device
Note: Chaplains Assistant
Enlisted by: Selected Service
Date of birth: 20-Mar-1947
Hometown: Sherrills Ford, North Carolina
Marital status: Married to Emma V. Abernathy
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Start of tour: 31-May-1968
Incident date: 2-Feb-1969
Date of casualty: 2-Feb-1969
Age at death: 21
Cause of death: Hostile, Died. Unknown. Misadventure.
Jimmy Edd Abernathy died from wound received while on a military mission when mistaken for hostile force and hit by friendly fire.
Location of fatality: Binh Duong, South Vietnam
Place of interment: Rehobeth United Methodist Church Cemetery, Terrell, North Carolina, USA
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ARMY COMMENDATION MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE
POSTHUMOUS
SPECIALIST FIVE JIMMY EDD ABERNATHY
2 FEBRUARY 1969
HEADQUARTERS AND HEADQUARTERS TROOP, 2nd SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Specialist Five Jimmy Edd Abernathy distinguished himself by heroism in connection with military operations against a hostile force on 2 February 1969 while serving as a chaplain’s assistant with Headquarters Troop, 2d Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date Specialist Abernathy volunteered to accompany a lightly-armed security patrol in search of Viet Cong infiltrators. While moving through the dense undergrowth, he suddenly observed a large number of Viet Cong holding an indoctrination meeting. He immediately notified the patrol leader of the location of the enemy forces. After deploying his men, the patrol leader ordered them to open fire. The enemy force was taken by complete surprise and suffered heavy casualties. After quickly checking for casualties among his comrades, Specialist Abernathy led a search of the surrounding area. Finding no additional Viet Cong in the area, Specialist Abernathy, disregarding the possibility of an ambush, positioned himself as a rear security guard for his comrades. While manning this position, he was mortally wounded by friendly small arms fire. Specialist Five Abernathy’s courage, dedication to duty and deep concern for the lives and welfare of his comrades even at the cost of his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.
Headquarters, II Field Force Vietnam, General Orders No. 995 (April 19, 1969)